Women police personnel lead crowd control efforts during protest
A large contingent of 3,500 women police personnel was deployed in central Delhi to manage protests and enforce security restrictions. These officers took the lead in negotiating with demonstrators and handling detentions, a move following previous allegations of misconduct by male officers.
Why it matters
The deployment reflects a strategic shift in crowd control tactics, utilizing gender-specific personnel to mitigate potential friction and address past controversies regarding police conduct.
In pink jackets over their uniforms, women police personnel manned barricades, negotiated with protesters and carried out detentions across central Delhi on Saturday (October 10) as demonstrators were prevented from marching towards Jantar Mantar.
Around 3,500 women personnel, including those from the Haryana and Uttar Pradesh police, were deployed, according to Delhi Police data. They were stationed along Ashoka Road, Jantar Mantar Road, Janpath, Connaught Place and Kharak Singh Marg. Buses carrying women personnel moved between locations.
The deployment was evident in the morning when women officers approached Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders aboard a flight from Mumbai before their detention. On the streets, women personnel took the lead in engaging with demonstrators, including young men, while male officers largely remained in the background. They also directed citizens and intercepted groups attempting to reach the protest site.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in